MLS Fantasy 2014: 7 Goalkeepers Worth Picking Up
7 MLS Goalkeepers Worth Picking Up To Your Squad
We are now sitting just about a week away from the beginning of the 2014 MLS regular season, and now is the time to be getting the final touches on your fantasy soccer squads. Today I'll be looking at who you should pick up at the goalkeeper position. The fantasy numbers used are from the Fantasy Manager game through the MLS website.
It can be argued that the goalkeeper position is the most important spot on your fantasy team. You can only play one player per week so if you pick wrong, it could come back to haunt you in the long run. Thankfully, the goalkeepers are not too expensive in fantasy, with the highest-costing keeper coming in at $6 million, which is below the average salary per player.
One thing that you should not worry about when looking for your goalkeepers is their potential win-loss record. There are no bonus points, positive or negative, for a win or a loss. You'll want to look for keepers who will make starts as they will earn you two points if they play at least 60 minutes of a match, which will happen for you unless there is an injury involved. A clean sheet with at least 60 minutes of playing time will earn you another four points.
Another item to look for will be saves; keepers earn a point for every three saves they make during a game.
Obviously you need to be careful when selecting your keepers because you will have less to allocate to the more expensive positions on the field where a top-tier player could cost you between $9-11 million. You only have $120 million to allocate to a roster of 18 players so whatever you do, spend your money wisely.
Make sure you check back with Rant Sports over the next three days as we will look at who you should add at defense, midfield and forward to help you with your MLS Fantasy Soccer squad.
Matthew Evans is a soccer writer for www.RantSports.com, “Like” him on Facebook, Follow him on Twitter, or add him to your network on Google
7. Stefan Frei, Seattle Sounders FC
2013 Fantasy Points: 3
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 3.3 percent
2014 Pre-Season Price: $5 million
Picking up Stefan Frei right now would be a big risk considering that manager Sigi Schmid has yet to publicly announce whether Frei or Marcus Hahnemann will be the starting goalkeeper for the Seattle Sounders FC. Moreover, Schmid had alternated starts between the two during the preseason. Whoever ends up being the starter should see better numbers than what Michael Gspurning put up last year with Seattle's revamped center of defense.
6. Eric Kronberg, Sporting Kansas City
2013 Fantasy Points: 0
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 6.5 percent
2014 Pre-Season Price: $5 million
Eric Kronberg is in the perfect position as a goalkeeper. He is taking over for a club legend in Jimmy Nielsen, but he does so behind one of the best defenses in the league. The club gave up a total of 34 goals in 45 games across all competitions and on top of that, they return all four starters on the back-line for the 2014 season. Kronberg is currently listed at $5 million, but may miss some time early due to Sporting Kansas City's CONCACAF Champions League series with Cruz Azul.
5. Zac MacMath, Philadelphia Union
2013 Fantasy Points: 167
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 10.5 percent
2014 Pre-Season Price: $5 million
Fantasy owners of Zac MacMath will need to keep a very close eye on his play during the early portions of the 2014 MLS regular season. MacMath could be on a very short leash after the Philadelphia Union selected Andre Blake with the first pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft in January. That said, this could be a motivational tool for MacMath, who will likely be auditioning for clubs who are interested in his services in 2015.
4. Tally Hall, Houston Dynamo
2013 Fantasy Points: 205
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 13.6 percent
2014 Pre-Season Price: $6 million
Tally Hall had the most points in 2013 of any goalkeeper that is returning to play in 2014. In the last three regular seasons, Hall has only missed one game while averaging around three saves per game. Hall does not record too many shutouts, but he doesn't give up too many goals either at a little over one per game. Hall will give you big numbers on his good days, but make sure to have a capable backup for the games when he could struggle.
3. Dan Kennedy, Chivas USA
2013 Fantasy Points: 132
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 24,9 percent
2014 Pre-Season Price: $4.5 million
Dan Kennedy has really been the lone bright spot for Chivas USA in recent memory. Kennedy kept a hold of the starting goalkeeper spot despite all of the roster turnover that went on around him. His statistics from past seasons may scare you, but don't let that affect your decision whether to select him or not. This season could be the best of Kennedy's young career now that Chivas has transitioned from their past ownership situation.
2. Clint Irwin, Colorado Rapids
2013 Fantasy Points: 151
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 6.4 percent
2014 Pre-Season Price: $5 million
Clint Irwin is one of the better young goalkeepers in MLS. During his rookie season, he posted a record of 14-9-9 with a goals against of 1.10 leading the Colorado Rapids into the playoffs despite the youthful makeup of the squad. Another preseason to gel will only propel these Rapids further into the postseason.
1. Bill Hamid, DC United
2013 Fantasy Points: 112
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 7.9 percent
2014 Preseason Price: $5 million
Bill Hamid stands to improve the most from last season as DC United basically gutted their entire team ahead of the 2014 season. You can expect to see stats like the ones from 2012 from Hamid this season now that he has a reputable defense in front of him.
7 MLS Goalkeepers Worth Picking Up To Your Squad
We are now sitting just about a week away from the beginning of the 2014 MLS regular season, and now is the time to be getting the final touches on your fantasy soccer squads. Today I'll be looking at who you should pick up at the goalkeeper position. The fantasy numbers used are from the Fantasy Manager game through the MLS website.
It can be argued that the goalkeeper position is the most important spot on your fantasy team. You can only play one player per week so if you pick wrong, it could come back to haunt you in the long run. Thankfully, the goalkeepers are not too expensive in fantasy, with the highest-costing keeper coming in at $6 million, which is below the average salary per player.
One thing that you should not worry about when looking for your goalkeepers is their potential win-loss record. There are no bonus points, positive or negative, for a win or a loss. You'll want to look for keepers who will make starts as they will earn you two points if they play at least 60 minutes of a match, which will happen for you unless there is an injury involved. A clean sheet with at least 60 minutes of playing time will earn you another four points.
Another item to look for will be saves; keepers earn a point for every three saves they make during a game.
Obviously you need to be careful when selecting your keepers because you will have less to allocate to the more expensive positions on the field where a top-tier player could cost you between $9-11 million. You only have $120 million to allocate to a roster of 18 players so whatever you do, spend your money wisely.
Make sure you check back with Rant Sports over the next three days as we will look at who you should add at defense, midfield and forward to help you with your MLS Fantasy Soccer squad.
Matthew Evans is a soccer writer for www.RantSports.com, “Like” him on Facebook, Follow him on Twitter, or add him to your network on Google
7. Stefan Frei, Seattle Sounders FC
2013 Fantasy Points: 3
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 3.3 percent
2014 Pre-Season Price: $5 million
Picking up Stefan Frei right now would be a big risk considering that manager Sigi Schmid has yet to publicly announce whether Frei or Marcus Hahnemann will be the starting goalkeeper for the Seattle Sounders FC. Moreover, Schmid had alternated starts between the two during the preseason. Whoever ends up being the starter should see better numbers than what Michael Gspurning put up last year with Seattle's revamped center of defense.
6. Eric Kronberg, Sporting Kansas City
2013 Fantasy Points: 0
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 6.5 percent
2014 Pre-Season Price: $5 million
Eric Kronberg is in the perfect position as a goalkeeper. He is taking over for a club legend in Jimmy Nielsen, but he does so behind one of the best defenses in the league. The club gave up a total of 34 goals in 45 games across all competitions and on top of that, they return all four starters on the back-line for the 2014 season. Kronberg is currently listed at $5 million, but may miss some time early due to Sporting Kansas City's CONCACAF Champions League series with Cruz Azul.
5. Zac MacMath, Philadelphia Union
2013 Fantasy Points: 167
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 10.5 percent
2014 Pre-Season Price: $5 million
Fantasy owners of Zac MacMath will need to keep a very close eye on his play during the early portions of the 2014 MLS regular season. MacMath could be on a very short leash after the Philadelphia Union selected Andre Blake with the first pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft in January. That said, this could be a motivational tool for MacMath, who will likely be auditioning for clubs who are interested in his services in 2015.
4. Tally Hall, Houston Dynamo
2013 Fantasy Points: 205
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 13.6 percent
2014 Pre-Season Price: $6 million
Tally Hall had the most points in 2013 of any goalkeeper that is returning to play in 2014. In the last three regular seasons, Hall has only missed one game while averaging around three saves per game. Hall does not record too many shutouts, but he doesn't give up too many goals either at a little over one per game. Hall will give you big numbers on his good days, but make sure to have a capable backup for the games when he could struggle.
3. Dan Kennedy, Chivas USA
2013 Fantasy Points: 132
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 24,9 percent
2014 Pre-Season Price: $4.5 million
Dan Kennedy has really been the lone bright spot for Chivas USA in recent memory. Kennedy kept a hold of the starting goalkeeper spot despite all of the roster turnover that went on around him. His statistics from past seasons may scare you, but don't let that affect your decision whether to select him or not. This season could be the best of Kennedy's young career now that Chivas has transitioned from their past ownership situation.
2. Clint Irwin, Colorado Rapids
2013 Fantasy Points: 151
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 6.4 percent
2014 Pre-Season Price: $5 million
Clint Irwin is one of the better young goalkeepers in MLS. During his rookie season, he posted a record of 14-9-9 with a goals against of 1.10 leading the Colorado Rapids into the playoffs despite the youthful makeup of the squad. Another preseason to gel will only propel these Rapids further into the postseason.
1. Bill Hamid, DC United
2013 Fantasy Points: 112
Percentage of Fantasy Owners: 7.9 percent
2014 Preseason Price: $5 million
Bill Hamid stands to improve the most from last season as DC United basically gutted their entire team ahead of the 2014 season. You can expect to see stats like the ones from 2012 from Hamid this season now that he has a reputable defense in front of him.
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